Finishing School: Edges & Bindings

From easy, speedy ways to complete UFOs to elegant edgings that bring out the best in your finished quilts, quilting instructor extraordinaire Mimi Dietrich will be your guide. Start by learning the fastest, friendliest way to finish a quilt. See how to apply a double-fold binding with mitered corners and bulk-free diagonal seams. Bring inspired style to your edges with covered cording, lace or rickrack insertions. Create rounded and scalloped edges finished beautifully with bias binding that lays perfectly flat. Plus, Mimi will guide you through finishing your edges with three types of prairie points and even with ruffles! Before you explore the included patterns, learn to add a sleeve for hanging your quilt and a label to sign and date your finished project.

Lesson plan

27:21

Lesson 1. Using Backing as the Binding

Meet Mimi Dietrich and learn a simple method for turning your quilt's backing into a binding.

53:37

Lesson 2. Making Bindings

Learn how to create a new binding from scratch, and measure and cut accurate amounts for any quilt size. Next, Mimi walks you through the steps for making a diagonal seam, working with a double-fold binding, and creating elegant mitered corners. You'll finish the lesson by connecting and finishing your bindings for a gorgeous completed project.

35:14

Lesson 3. Adding Trim to Your Bindings

Let your creative side shine as you explore various ways to apply decorative trim to your bindings. Learn how to work with purchased covered cording, or select fabric from your quilt to accent the cording. Then discover the fun of working with flat folded piping, lace, rickrack, and three different ways to use striped fabric edging.

40:43

Lesson 4. Round Corners & Scalloped Edges

Learn how to easily create rounded corners, and make and apply bias binding to both round and scalloped corners. Mimi shows you cutting techniques, ways to use ordinary household objects as helpful tools, and professional sewing methods that will make your edges stand out from the crowd.

35:16

Lesson 5. Prairie Points & Ruffles

Learn two different ways to create prairie points for your quilt's edges and how to create a ruffled binding. Mimi walks you through ways to attach separate and continuous prairie points, and offers sewing pointers that will help make your process faster and more fun!

26:31

Lesson 6. Sleeves & Labels

Learn simple methods for creating rod sleeves and corner pockets with Mimi's up-close instruction. Then you'll learn how to create an elegant label to finish off your quilt before you display it or give it away as a gift.

"Enjoyed all the information. Mimi has a delightful and pleasant teaching style. Hope she does many more classes."
- bconkwrightTexas

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Lesson plan

27:21

Lesson 1. Using Backing as the Binding

Meet Mimi Dietrich and learn a simple method for turning your quilt's backing into a binding.

53:37

Lesson 2. Making Bindings

Learn how to create a new binding from scratch, and measure and cut accurate amounts for any quilt size. Next, Mimi walks you through the steps for making a diagonal seam, working with a double-fold binding, and creating elegant mitered corners. You'll finish the lesson by connecting and finishing your bindings for a gorgeous completed project.

35:14

Lesson 3. Adding Trim to Your Bindings

Let your creative side shine as you explore various ways to apply decorative trim to your bindings. Learn how to work with purchased covered cording, or select fabric from your quilt to accent the cording. Then discover the fun of working with flat folded piping, lace, rickrack, and three different ways to use striped fabric edging.

40:43

Lesson 4. Round Corners & Scalloped Edges

Learn how to easily create rounded corners, and make and apply bias binding to both round and scalloped corners. Mimi shows you cutting techniques, ways to use ordinary household objects as helpful tools, and professional sewing methods that will make your edges stand out from the crowd.

35:16

Lesson 5. Prairie Points & Ruffles

Learn two different ways to create prairie points for your quilt's edges and how to create a ruffled binding. Mimi walks you through ways to attach separate and continuous prairie points, and offers sewing pointers that will help make your process faster and more fun!

26:31

Lesson 6. Sleeves & Labels

Learn simple methods for creating rod sleeves and corner pockets with Mimi's up-close instruction. Then you'll learn how to create an elegant label to finish off your quilt before you display it or give it away as a gift.

The instructor

Mimi Dietrich, Instructor of Finishing School: Edges & Bindings

Mimi's quilting adventure began with the birth of her first son. He's almost 40 now, and she's still quilting! Mimi started out teaching at a friend's local quilt shop, and as of today she's taught quilting in almost every state. She's also the author of 17 quilting books. Mimi was honored as the International Association of Professional Quilters Teacher of the Year for 2013. In July 2015, she will be inducted into the Quilters Hall of Fame.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(181 reviews)

Awesome Complete And Fun

by Gayterrace on March 2, 2015

I'm learning so many different ways to finish a quilt to make them extra special and different,,I've really enjoyed all my classes

I'm learning so many different ways to finish a quilt to make them extra special and different,,I've really enjoyed all my classes

Wonderful Teacher!

by teknokath2502160 on March 1, 2015

I learned so much in this class! What a great teacher! We not only learned how but we also learned why. Several options were given for most techniques. I loved the tricks she taught us to help us remember how to do different bindings. She not only taught the material, she was enthusiastic about the subject. Great class!

I learned so much in this class! What a great teacher! We not only learned how but we also learned why. Several options were given for most techniques. I loved the tricks she taught us to help us remember how to do different bindings. She not only taught the material, she was enthusiastic about the subject. Great class!

Lose The Fear Of Binding

by Rhoda Betz on February 27, 2015

Great class!! Can't wait to finish my quilt!

Great class!! Can't wait to finish my quilt!

Hand Sewing Binding

by evered5837969 on February 25, 2015

I found Mimi's demonstration of hand stitching the binding excellent. This is where I struggled so I appreciated how well this was explained and shown. I Also liked that there were 3 different methods shown for connecting the beginning and ending of the binding. Strategies for remembering techniques were great.

I found Mimi's demonstration of hand stitching the binding excellent. This is where I struggled so I appreciated how well this was explained and shown. I Also liked that there were 3 different methods shown for connecting the beginning and ending of the binding. Strategies for remembering techniques were great.